This Ultra-Rare Xbox One X Console Looks Amazing, But It's Not Cheap

This special console will go to one lucky auction winner.Credit: Microsoft/Square Enix

Excuse the hyperbole, but when you see the “ultra-exclusive” console I'm talking about, all will become clear. Dare I say, crystal (Dynamics) clear. Yeah, I'm pretty proud of that one. Ahem.

Currently up for charity auction on Ebay is a truly breathtaking, one-of-a-kind custom Xbox One X system (including an equally incredible matching controller, plus a digital download of Shadow of the Tomb Raider), created in collaboration between the awesome teams at both Microsoft and Square Enix. The listing is up to “celebrate National Dog Day [August 26] and the upcoming game release of Shadow of the Tomb Raider” as well as the recent Cute Raider parody. I don't know about you, but those seem like excellent reasons to sell off what might be my favorite-looking Xbox console of all time, and it's for a great cause.

A good shot of both the console and controller.Credit: Microsoft/Square Enix

Last month in my Xbox One bundle roundup, I lamented the fact that we weren't getting any sweet Tomb Raider limited edition hardware alongside the upcoming game. You know, a special console covered in twisting vines, faux moss and glowing, ancient Mayan symbols. Not even two weeks later we get just that, albeit in astronomical auction form. The item description doesn't say specifically if the insignia on top of the console actually illuminates, but the photo sure makes it seem like a real possibility. I'm also wondering if there are custom boot-up and disc eject sounds. Maybe a far-off jaguar roar when bringing the hardware out of rest mode? Howler monkey chorus when you power down? I sure hope so.

As of this writing, the auction is sitting pretty at a cool $7,600. Not exactly chump change by any means. But that's perfectly fine, because you see, it's helping to save animal lives. Yes, that’s the best part: All proceeds go to the Best Friends Animal Society, a really noteworthy charity organization that seeks to end dog and cat euthanasia in America's shelters. So sure, us gaming peasants might not be able to afford it anytime soon, but whoever can manage to shell out a few thousand in the name of raiding tombs will be rescuing countless furry lives in the process.

Even the controller looks incredible.Credit: Microsoft/Square Enix

In addition to the singular brown vine-ridden console, there are three other Xbox/Tomb Raider charity auctions currently going on, ones that will probably be more financially feasible for your average consumer. Each of these bundles consists of a 1TB Xbox One X console autographed by Lara Croft actress Camilla Luddington, a wireless controller and a digital download of Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Not nearly as amazing as the jungle ruin edition, but it still goes toward helping shelter animals, so it's just as worth it.

Will you bid on the Shadow of the Tomb Raider Xbox One X console?Credit: Microsoft/Square Enix

All four of these Tomb Raider auctions end on September 5, so if you've got the interest and the cash, make sure you get those bids in sooner rather than later. And don’t forget, Shadow of the Tomb Raider officially releases on PS4, Xbox One and PC on September 14, 2018.